Integration of multisensor hybrid reasoners to support personal autonomy in the smart home.

The deployment of the Ambient Intelligence (AmI) paradigm requires designing and integrating user-centered smart environments to assist people in their daily life activities. This research paper details an integration and validation of multiple heterogeneous sensors with hybrid reasoners that support decision making in order to monitor personal and environmental data at a smart home in a private way. The results innovate on knowledge-based platforms, distributed sensors, connected objects, accessibility and authentication methods to promote independent living for elderly people. TALISMAN+, the AmI framework deployed, integrates four subsystems in the smart home: (i) a mobile biomedical telemonitoring platform to provide elderly patients with continuous disease management; (ii) an integration middleware that allows context capture from heterogeneous sensors to program environment's reaction; (iii) a vision system for intelligent monitoring of daily activities in the home; and (iv) an ontologies-based integrated reasoning platform to trigger local actions and manage private information in the smart home. The framework was integrated in two real running environments, the UPM Accessible Digital Home and MetalTIC house, and successfully validated by five experts in home care, elderly people and personal autonomy.

Statistical tools applied in the characterisation and evaluation of a thermo-hygrometric corrective action carried out at the Noheda archaeological site (Noheda, Spain).

The Noheda archaeological site is unique and exceptional for its size, and the quality and conservation condition of the Roman mosaic pavement covering its urban pars. In 2008 a tent was installed as protection from rain and sun. Being of interest to characterise the microclimate of the remains, six probes with relative humidity and temperature sensors were installed in 2013 for this purpose. Microclimate monitoring allowed us to check relative humidity differences resulting from the groundwater level, as well as inner sensors reaching maximum temperatures higher than the outdoors ones as a consequence of the non-ventilated tent covering the archaeological site. Microclimatic conditions in the archaeological site were deemed detrimental for the conservation of the mosaics. Thus, in summer 2013, expanded clay and geotextile were installed over the mosaics as a corrective action. The outcomes of this study have proven the effectiveness of this solution to control temperature and relative humidity, helping to configure a more stable microclimate suitable for preservation of the mosaic.

[Methimazole and propylthiouracil induced acute toxic hepatitis]. / Hepatitis aguda tóxica por metimazol y propiltiouracilo.

Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common endocrinology disorders. Treatment can be either pharmacological, surgical or using radioactive iodine. In Europe methimazole is the antithyroid drug of choice because it can be administered in a single daily dose and has a lower risk of adverse reactions. Around 5% of patients taking thionamides can present any of their side effects, which are usually mild. Liver toxicity due to thionamides is very rare, and severe due to propylthiouracil. We present a clinical case of a cholestatic jaundice and acute toxic hepatitis due to methimazole and a cross-reaction with propylthiouracil. Based on this case a review is presented.

Hepatitis aguda tóxica por metimazol y propiltiouracilo / Methimazole and propylthiouracil induced acute toxic hepatitis

El hipertiroidismo es uno de los trastornos endocrinológicos más frecuentes. Su tratamiento actual consiste en fármacos, yodo radiactivo y cirugía. El metimazol es el fármaco antitiroideo de elección en Europa, porque puede administrarse en una sola dosis diaria y por su menor riesgo de efectos secundarios. En un 5% de los pacientes pueden aparecer efectos secundarios por los fármacos antitiroideos, que suelen ser menores. La enfermedad hepática asociada con estos fármacos es excepcional, y es más común y grave en el caso del propiltiouracilo. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente con hipertiroidismo, que desarrolló una hepatitis aguda tóxica colestásica tras la administración de metimazol y, posteriormente, una reacción cruzada con propiltiouracilo. Debido a la rareza del caso, nos parece interesante su presentación.

Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common endocrinology disorders. Treatment can be either pharmacological, surgical or using radioctive iodine. In Europe methimazole is the antithyroid drug of choice because it can be administered in a single daily dose and has a lower risk of adverse reactions. Around 5% of patients taking thionamides can present any of their side effects, which are usually mild. Liver toxicity due to thionamides is very rare, and severe due to propylthiouracil. We present a clinical case of a cholestatic jaundice and acute toxic hepatitis due to methimazole and a cross-reaction with propylthiouracil. Based on this case a review is presented